Liquid level indicator



Nov. 2, 1937. J. D'ARCEY 2,098,085

LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR Filed Sept. 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l I VII/IA Nov. 2, 1937. J. D'ARcEY 2,098,085

LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR Filed Sept. 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented. Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 2,098,085 LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR John DArcey, Chelsea, Mass.

` Application September 18; 1934,-Serial No. 744,515

10 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to an improvement in a. liquid level indicator applicable for determining the liquid contents of a tank or other receptacle containing oil or other liquid.

'I'he primary object oi this invention is to provide an indicator by which the contents of a sealed container can be determined without breaking the seal and allowing the escape of fumes or vapor therefrom,

A further object thereof is to provide an indicator including a pivotally supported float the pivotal movement of which is transmitted through a movement of rotation into movement of reciprocation.

Another object thereof is to provide an indicator that can be easily installed in a tank through the internally threaded opening usually provided and includes a gauge which can be removed if desired without breaking the seal or 20 permitting the escape of vapors from the tank.

' Another object thereof is to provide an indicator including a. gauge the needle of which can be adjusted Without the necessity of removing the indicator from the container or breaking 25 the seal thereof.

Another object thereof is to provide in such indicator in addition ton a visible gauge at the container, one or more gauges which maybe located at various points as desired and one or 30 more signal devices which act as a warning that the contents of the container have reached a certain low limit and that it should be relled.

Other objects will appear from a consideration of one embodiment of this invention set forth 35 in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings reference to which is made in the description and in which Fig. l is asectional elevation of a portion of a receptacle or tank equipped with an indicator 40 embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is anenlarged view partly in cross section of the'upper portion of the indicator including the' gauge;

Fig. 3 is. a sectional view, taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2 of part of the gauge needle operat-A ing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of an element of the indicator; e

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views of that element taken along the lines 5-.5 and 6-6 respectively of Fig. k4;

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view showing one type of ,electric circuits by which supplementary ing dicators are connected to the indicator` 9|; the

(Cl. 'I3-317) tank so that they will disclose the amount of iiuid in the tank; and

Fig. 8 is a view in cross section of an alter nate construction of a portion of the indicator.

This invention has been shown in the drawings and will be described herein as embodied in a device particularly applicable for use to indicate the level of oil in a tank. It will be understood however that the invention is not limited thereto and that it is applicable for use in many forms and in many types of installations.

The oil tank 20 in Fig. 1 is provided With an annular internally threaded boss 2l in its upper wall on which the indicator gauge 22 is supported in convenient position for examination. The gauge 22 is supported upon a plate 23 removably secured to an` annular externally threaded plug 24 mounted in the boss 2|. the plug 24 is here shown provided with a pocket 25 which receives the plate 23. A gasket 26 rests on the base of the pocket to seal the tank. A pairof posts 21 ilxed at their upper ends to the The upper face ofr plate 23 extend into the tank through the plug 24 and carry at their lower ends a saddle 28 (Fig. 4).

Mounted upon the plate 23 and depending therefrom through the plug 24 is a bellows 30 closed at one end and sweated or otherwise permanently secured to the plate 23 (see Fig. 2). Secured to the underside of the base of the bellows 30 is a yoke 3l land a. rod 32 pivoted at its upper end in the yoke.

The saddle 28 is provided with a U-shaped recess 35 open at top and bottom. A block 36 secured to the lower end of the rod 32 is received in the recess 35. Extending across the recess and supported at its ends in the saddle 28 is a pin 3l. As shown in Fig. 6 the pin 31 lies in a hole 38, drilled through the saddle' from one side to the other and the posts 21 which support the saddle close the hole at both ends and hold the pin therein. Eccentrically mounted on the pin 31H and rotatable within a pocket in the block 36 is ya disk 39. A slot 40 cut in the outer face of the block exposes the periphery of the disk. Mounted at one end in a hole '4| through the periphery of the disk is an arm 42 which carries at its outer end a oat 43. The float 43 may be of any well known type and is here shown as comprising. two buoyant members 44 spaced apart on a frame 45 pivotally joined to the end of the arm 42. One of the members `I4 is preferably larger than the other so that the float will RQl'mlly take a, position similar to that shown to the arm 55 and needle 55 by means of a rod.

in Fig. l with the larger member further from the saddle than the smaller member.

The ioat i3 rests on the surface oi the liquid and will rise or :tall as the contents of the tank increase or decrease (see li'ig. 5). ilihis movement of the oat causes the arm l2 to rotate the disk 35i either around the pin 3l' or with the pin Si! in the hole 3B. The rotation oi the disk causes the reciprocation of the rod 52 and hence a contraction or expansion of the bellows 35.

The gauge 22 is of the well known disk type comprising a dished housing 35, a dial plate il preferably of bakelite or other dielectric material and a glass plate di cured in any suitable way as by a btael t9. Fix. d to the wall of the gauge within the housing behind the dial plate is a curved bracket 5@ from which a4 hollow post 5i projects through a hole in the wall oi the gauge. Carried by the bracket 5@ are a pair of spaced walls 52 which extend into the housing and support a pair of pins 55 and 5d. Fixed to the pin 53 is an arm 55l upon which mercury switches and 5l are secured in any suitable manner. The arm 55 is provided on both sides with bosses 5t which receive the pin and space the arm between the walls 52. A spring 55 engages at one end'the arm 55 and at the other end a wall 52. The needle 5@ is secured to the end of the pin 53 in any well known manner and reciprocates over the dial plate di in unison with the arm 55.

The gauge is mounted upon the plate 23 by means of the post 5i which is inserted into the center of a hollow externally threaded sleeve 5i carried by the plate and an internally threaded collar 5i? flanged as its upper end surrounding the post 5i andy engaging the threads on the sleeve. The post 5l and Walls 52 are preferably made integral with the bracket 5@ and the sleeve 5i is preferably made integral with the plate as shown in Fig. 2 but some or all could be made separatelyv if desired.

The reciprocation of the rod 52 is transmitted 55 hxed to the base of the bellows til, a second rod 55 resting on the rod 55 and an articulated structure comprising a chain of links 5l, 55 and 55. The rods 55 and 55 together form a column which extends through the center of the post 5l. The link 5l! ,at one end of the chain is pivoted upon the pin 55, being spaced between the walls by collars itl, and the link t@ at the other end of the chain is pivotally attached to an ear li odset from one`side of the arm 55. The upper rod 55 terminates in a tongue 'l2 pivotally attached to the center link 55 (see Figs. 2 and 3) It will be apparent from the above description that the gauge 22 can and ordinarily will be mounted in position after the remainder of the indicator has been installed'in the tank. This installation can be made at any time regardless of the amount of liquid in the tank. The plate 25, plug 2d, posts 2l, saddle 2t, arm i2 'and the elements associated therewith can be inserted as a unit through the boss 2i in the tank 25. The float Mi is of such dimension that it can be passed through the hole in the boss. After the parts are installed the plug 25 is fixed in the ,boss 2i and the plate 23 secured by screws or other suitable means to the plug.y The gauge 22 is then mounted upon the plate 25 in the manner above described, and the positionof the needle @il isfadjusted, the gauge being raised or permitted to lower by means of thecollar 5t and sei? by means' of the set screw 531.

amoebae In addition. to the main indicator hereinabove described it has often been found desirable to provide one or more supplementary indicators by which the condition of the tank may be determined at a distance. As shown in lFig. 7 of the drawings there may be an indicator l5 ad# jacent the nlling nozzle usually outside the building and an indicator l5 located at some convenient point in the building to give warning when the amount of oil in the tank falls below a predetermined minimum.

Referring to Fig. 7 it will be noted that the mercury switches 55 and 5l form parts of circuits from a source ci power not shown and close the circuits under certain conditions. The main lead lll is connected to both the switches and 5l, and the other main lead llt. is connected to the indicators l5 and l5. The-indicator 'l5 comprises a housing liti closed at one end by a lens 55 and including an electric bulb 5i and a hand operated double throw switch 52. The indicator it comprises a bulb not shown and a lens d?) bearing advertising or other indicia so that when the bulb is lighted the indicia is brought prominently into view.

The main lead 'il is connected by a lead @d through a binding post 55 with the mercury switches 55 and 5l and by a lead 55 with a button itl of the switch d2. The main lead liti is connected by a lead d@ through the bulb of the indicator l5 and a binding post 59 to the switch 55, and by a lead Si@ through the bulb di of the indicator l5 to the center post @i of the switch 52. The switch 5l is connected by a lead 52 to a second button 55 of the switch 52.

It will be understood that the mercury switches each contain a ball of mercury which moves from one end to the other of a closed tube as the positions of the switches change. The leads til and 5t enter the switch 55 near the end which receives the ballI of mercury when the tank is nearly empty and the leads t@ and di. enter the switch 571 near the end which receives the ball of mercury when the tank is nearly full. Hence when the tank is nearly empty the leadskiil and dit are electrically connected by the ball of mercury and the indicator ll-5 gives warning by the lighting of the bulb through the circuit thus completed. When as here shown the lens 55 carries the name and telephone number of an oil company the observer is advised who to notify. The indicator l5 at the filling nozzle enables the oil man to determine if the tank needs nlling. The lhandle of the switch t2 is mov\d into contact with the button 53 and. if the b lb di does not light the tank needs lling. In order to avoid overflowing the tank due to failure of the bulb to light even if the tank were lled and the circuit through the bulb completed a-\ test can be made by moving the switch handle into contact with the button lil and thus completing a circuit through the bulb 5l. If the bulb then lights the switch handle is swung back into contact with the button @Si and the tank iilled until the bulb di lights when the switch 5l has been tilted to the right and the ball of mercury closed the circuit through the leads 53 and 52.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modification in the mount.- j

ing of the rod 52 and comprises the substitution! of a stumng box 95 for the bellows 35. The rod 52 raised or lowered through the stuffing box 95'h actuates the rod 55 and thereby causes the needlev of the gauge 22 to indicate the/condition ofthe]- tank.

' scribed as applied to a tank containing fuel it vet is understood that I do not thereby limit the. employment of the invention thereto and that the invention may be incorporated in other embodiments, and applied to other uses without dparting from the spirit and' scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

l. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a receptacle comprising a plug mounted in an opening in the receptacle, a saddle in said receptacle suspended from said plug, a pin carried by said saddle, a rotatable disk eccentrically mounted on said pin, an arm extending from said disk, a float on said arm, said iloat being raised or lowered by changes in the level of the liquid thereby rotating said disk, a block having, a pocket 'n which said disk is mounted and which is raisedv and lowered by the rotation thereof, a rod having a vertical movement of translation carried by said plug, a gauge operated by the movement of said rod, and means for imparting the movement of the block to the lrod.

2. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a receptacle comprising a plug mounted in an opening in the receptacle, a saddle in said receptacle suspended from said plug, a pin carried by said saddle, a rotatable disk eccentrically mounted on said pin, an arm extending from said disk, a float on said arm, said iioat being raised or lowered by changes in the level of the liquid thereby rotating said disk, a block having a pocket in which said disk is mounted and which is raised and lowered by the rotation thereof, an expansible bellows suspended from said plug into the receptacle, a rod carried by said bellows and having a movement of translation as the bellows is collapsed or expanded, and means connecting said block and said bellows whereby the movement of the block causes the bellows to expand or contract and the rod to move.

3. Means for indicating the level o! liquid in a receptacle comprising a plug mounted in an opening in the receptacle, a saddle in said receptacle suspended from said plug, a pin carried by said saddle, a rotatable disk eccentrically mounted on said pin, an arm extending from said disk, a float on said arm, said float being raised orlowered by changes in the level of the liquid thereby rotating said disk, a block having a pocket in which said disk is mounted and which is raised and lowered by the rotation thereof, expansible bellows suspended from said plug into the receptacle, a rod carried by said bellows and having a movement of translation as the bellows is collapsed or expanded, a, gauge operated by the vmovement of said rod, and means connectingsaid block and said bellows whereby the movement of the block causes the bellows to expand or contract and the rod to move and operate the gauge.

p4. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a receptacle comprising an annular plug mounted on the receptacle, posts depending from said plug into said receptacle,` a vsaddle iixed to said posts, a pin carried by said saddle, a rotatable disk eccentrically mounted on said pin, an arm extending from said disk, a iioat on said arm, said float being raised or lowered by changes in the level of the liquid thereby rotating the disk, an expansible bellows seated in .the center of said plug, a rod carried by said bellows and having a movement of translation as the bellows is contracted or expanded,and means attached to said bellows and actuated by said disk to cause the bellows to expand or contract and the rod to move.

5. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a receptacle including a gauge comprising a dial, a pointer movable thereover, an annular plug in an opening in said receptacle on which plug the gauge is supported, and means for moving said pointerincluding a bellows seated in the center of said plug and depending therefrom into said receptacle, a rod carried by said bellows'for` actuating the pointer, and means movable in response to any change in the level of the liquid for expanding or contracting said bellows to raise or lower said rod and cause it to actuate said pointer.

6. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a receptacle including a gauge comprising a dial, a pointer movable thereover, an annular plug in an opening in said receptacle on which plug the gauge is supported, and means for moving said pointer including a bellows seated in the center of said plug and depending therefrom into said receptacle, a rod carried by said bellows, means movable in response to any change in thelevel of the liquid for expanding or contracting said bellows to raise or lower said rod and cause it to actuate said pointer and means between the bellows and the gauge and accessible from without the gauge to adjust the relation of` said rod and said pointer. 7. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a receptacle comprising a plug mounted in an opening in the receptacle, posts depending from said plug into said receptacle, a saddle fixed to said posts, a pin carried by said saddle, a rotatable'disk eccentrically mounted onsaid pin, an arm extending from said disk, a noat on said arm, said float being raised or lowered by changes in the level of the liquid thereby rotating the disk, a block having a pocket which receives said disk, the rotation of the disk causing the block to rise or iall, a rod fixed to said block and extending between said posts through said plug and a gauge carried by said plugv and actuated by said rod.

'8. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a receptacle comprising a plug mounted in an opening in the receptacle, posts depending from said plug into said receptacle, a saddle fixed to said posts, a pin carried by said saddle and xed in position by said posts, a rotatable disk eccentrically mounted on said pin, an arm extending from said disk, a float on said arm, said iloat being raised or lowered by changes in the level of the liquid thereby rotating the disk, a block having a vpocket which receives said disk, the rotation of the disk causing the block to rise or fall, a rod fixed to said block and extending between said posts through said plug and a gauge carried by said plug and actuated by said rod.

9. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a receptacle having an annular boss in its upper -wall including a float adapted to rest on the level of the liquid, an annular plug removably secured to said boss, a plate removably secured to said plug, said float being carried by said plate and insertible into the receptacle through the boss upon removal of the plug regardless of the level of the liquid in the receptacle and a gauge removably supported by and adjustable relative to said plate.

1o. Means for indicating the ieveilp'i liquid in a receptacle having an annular boss iin its upper 1 wall including a iioat adapted to rest. on the level of the liquid, an annular plug 'removably extending thlough the center of said plug fi'omm which means seid oat extends, seid Hoei; end means being insertible into the receptacle through the boss upon removal ei? the" plug 1re= rseem'e te seid hess, e, plete removably seemed to said plug, means carried by seid plete end gerdlees of the level eff the liquid 1m the :recelefa mele, said plug being thereafter secured. 1bn seid boss, and said plate being then. secured to seid plug and e gauge removably supported by en@ .adjustable :relative to seid plete.

l JOM DYARCEY. 

